Knights-of-Stone-Bryce (12 page)

It was Mairi. Back in human form.

She wasn’t moving.

“Mairi!” Bryce called, but his voice caught in his throat.

He ran to her and knelt beside her. Her body had taken such a toll in the battle. The sacrifice she’d made… for him. She lay naked, curled in a fetal position. Her smooth tanned skin was marred by horrid scorch marks. Her dress hadn’t reappeared.

“Is she all right?” Lachlan approached.

“It doesn’t look that way!” Bryce heard the panic in his tone. Fear wouldn’t change a damn thing. He needed to keep a cool mind about it.

He bent down and assessed her vital signs. Her face appeared too still. Placing a hand over her heart, he waited. And prayed.

“Fuck.” Although Gavin’s sentiment echoed his own, it distracted Bryce.

“Shut yer head!” he yelled. “I’m trying to see if she’s alive.”

Bryce took a deep breath to control the rising terror. If his hand shook the way his body seemed to tremor, he wouldn’t be able to get an accurate read on her. His brothers circled around him, watching. Waiting. If he wasn’t so concerned with her safety, he would have told them to keep their eyes off her and sod off. In her current bleak state, it didn’t matter.

The movement of her chest was faint, but there. “She’s breathing.” His voice came out in a higher tone, on the edge of more frantic. Nothing like his own. “Breathing!” Thrill soared through him. He bolted up and threw his arms around his nearest brother, Calum. “She’s alive.”

Calum hugged him back. “That she is, bro.”

Bryce removed his kilt to cover her. Lachlan offered his as well. What did it matter? They were still in gargoyle form.

Lachlan bent over her, scanning her wounds. “Her burns should heal with time, but why is she unconscious?”

Bryce swallowed. “She passed her energy to me so I could continue. It took a lot out of her.” He stared at her. She appeared so young and fragile; he wanted to scoop her into his arms and keep her safe from the world. “It took everything out of her.”

“
Shite
,” Lachlan said.

No doubt Lachlan must be remembering the incident when he’d projected magic, using his body like a vessel to channel energy, that he’d ended up unconscious as well.

“At least, she hasn’t shifted to stone,” Calum pointed out.

Bryce nodded. That was true. Lachlan had done so when depleted of energy, and they’d feared the worst when they couldn’t communicate with him.

Unless with all the burns, the injuries somehow prevented her from shifting. In stone form, she could have recovered under the restoring energy of the sun.

No. It wasn’t such good news, after all.

“What happened?” Duncan’s low booming voice shattered the silence as he cut through the gargoyle brothers.

Bryce quickly summarized, wanting to tend to Mairi.

“Let me see her,” Duncan said.

The brothers spread back, but Bryce remained close. He wasn’t leaving her side for anyone. Not even for his former alpha.

Duncan hovered his hands over her torso, moving them mere inches back and forth.

“What are you doing to her?” Bryce demanded.

“Don’t interrupt,” Malcolm, Duncan’s chief enforcer, said. “Let him assess the damage.”

Although Bryce wanted to pepper Duncan with questions as to what he discovered, he forced himself to keep his mouth shut so Duncan could continue. Lachlan squeezed his shoulder and nodded with understanding.

Lachlan sent Bryce a message.
When I was out, Raina touched me. I felt her. I don’t know what she did, but somehow she sent some of her magic into me. Healing me.

Raina is a wolf shifter. Not like us.

Magic is magic.

Duncan pulled his hands back. “The burns are mostly on the surface. Must hurt like hell, but I don’t think it damaged her organs.”

“Will she be all right?” Bryce asked, hearing the frantic edge in his voice.

“Hopefully, with time,” Duncan said.

“Is there anything we can do to help her?”

Duncan paused and nodded. “Give her some of your energy. She doesn’t have enough in her to heal her wounds and it will take a long time to recover in her current state. Almost as long as for humans.”

Duncan leaned forward. “I will direct it to the worst of the wounds.”

Bryce nodded, ready to do whatever he could for her. He took a deep breath and attempted to clear his harried mind. What little he knew of magic was that it often relied on intuition. He placed his hand back over her heart and willed his strength to pass into her. While he did so, he envisioned it restoring her health.

“Let us help,” Lachlan said.

He raised his chin to welcome the idea, not wanting to do anything else that would distract his concentration. His brothers gathered around Mairi, covered with blood and gashes. But alive. They’d survived. They’d recover from their wounds.

Would Mairi?

Duncan agreed. “It will help bear the brunt of the energy loss on Bryce. The impact won’t be as taxing on him.”

Lachlan grunted in acknowledgment, knowing first-hand how draining it could be.

His brothers lowered their hands over Mairi while Duncan moved his over her wounds. His eyes returned to the half-mast state while a low hum seemed to vibrate from him. The longer the process continued, the more it zapped Bryce’s reserves, already depleted by battle.

Duncan pulled his hands away. “Now, we must bring her back to the clan and let her rest.”

Bryce piped up. “I’ll take her.” If anyone was going to carry her, it would be him.

“Are you able to?” Duncan asked.

Fueled by concern for her, Bryce would do a hell of a lot more than fly. She’d gone through much worse. “Aye.”

“We’ll clean up here and then join you,” Malcolm said. Bryce scanned the area, at all the destruction from the aftermath of battle. This land might have been a lively place while Mairi’s clan lived there, but now it stood desolate and battered. The stench of burning demons still lingered.

“I’ll catch up soon,” Duncan added. “In case, the journey proves too difficult.”

Carrying her limp body in his weakened state, the flight back through the Highlands was somber and slow. The dismal gray sky loomed over craggy cliffs. The gargoyles had emerged victorious over the sluagh, but if Mairi died, what did it matter? She’d fought with courage, pitting herself against the creatures ready to martyr herself for others. She’d even given him the last of her energy reserves. He glanced at her, cradled in his arms. Selfless and brave. The most amazing woman he’d ever met. Now, so fragile. He roared out in protest, but his cries were swallowed by the waves crashing against the rocks.

As he flew over the moors toward the castle, he sensed someone approach. When he turned back, he spotted Duncan. Bryce had flown slower than usual; he wasn’t surprised Duncan had caught up.

After they landed, Duncan said, “You made it back. That must have been a tough journey after all that happened tonight. You’re more resilient than I thought, Bryce.”

Bryce wasn’t sure what to say. Praise from Duncan didn’t come often, at least not when it came to Bryce and his brothers. He nodded.

“You can bring her inside. We’ll take good care of her. She can stay with our clan.”

The tautness in his chest made it difficult to breathe. He should be relieved—he’d brought her here, like she’d been a problem he had to rid himself of as quickly as possible. Now, that he’d succeeded, it hit him as a loss, not a win. An ache grew. She’d be miles away. On a different land. With different gargoyles. Perhaps mating with one. He tightened his hold on her.

If she ever recovered.

“Shouldn’t it be up to her where she lives?” Bryce replied, clutching desperately at a straw.

“Of course,” Duncan agreed. He raised a brow. “You brought her to live with our clan, correct?”

Bryce all but heard the implied sentiment.
To get rid of her.
Or maybe it was a combination of his guilt and regret.

“Aye, but—”

“You don’t want her to go back with you to the Isle of Stone, do you?”

That was exactly what he was thinking. But once Duncan said it, Bryce realized that was a foolish fantasy. Why would she leave the Highlands, her home, to come live on an isle with five brothers? A reckless bunch who, according to every other gargoyle, only cared about their rock music. The idea was mental.

Not that she’d ever laughed at his dreams with his music. In fact, she’d leaned in, eyes bright with fascination, eager to hear more. What musician could resist someone who appreciated their passion?

“It’s up to her,” Bryce blurted. The defensiveness in his tone was clear despite his attempt at neutrality.

“Ah, I see,” Duncan said. “You’ve grown attached to her.”

“I—I—uh…” What was he trying to say? “I just want to make sure she’s safe.”

“It’s natural that your instincts compel you to protect her.” Duncan reassured him. “Worry not. She will be taken care of by our clan.”

Perhaps Duncan was right—it was his gargoyle instincts taking over. Once he returned to the Isle of Stone, the feelings would dissipate knowing she was safe. Both he and Mairi would go on with their lives the way they were supposed to do.

Yet, something hot and intense had woken inside him. A hardened cage had opened, and she’d found her way in. Problem was, it left him with a yearning so powerful, it eclipsed everything. He’d fallen for her. And it had left him exposed and terrified.

Time to take a step back and regain a control of his harried emotions.

“Thank you, Duncan. For all you’ve done.” He tried to think of a reason to linger. He needed to be here when she woke.

What for? An entire clan of gargoyles was around to assist her. What could he provide that they couldn’t?

“Of course. It was what we had to do.” Duncan turned to walk away, but paused. “Good luck to you and your brothers. I’m sure you’ll have plenty to keep you occupied back on the isle.”

It was true. Bryce watched Duncan walk away. He was an old alpha; he’d experienced and sacrificed so much in leading a clan. And Bryce was now a beta of a clan. They’d been gone from the island long enough. He had to get back there, to accompany Lachlan to the peace talks. He couldn’t abandon his responsibilities and linger here. It was time to return to his duties.

He carried Mairi inside the castle and placed her on her bed. The last time they were there together…

“Bryce!” His mum rushed towards him. “You’re back!” She hugged him and then pulled back. “What’s wrong with Mairi? And where are your brothers?”

He attempted to calm her worries. “They’re coming soon. We’re all okay.” He glanced at Mairi. “She needs to rest.” He faced his mother and entrusted her with a task he wished he hadn’t balked out of earlier. “Will you watch over her?”

“You’re leaving?” Her brows furrowed with surprise.

“Aye.” He avoided the urge to look at Mairi, again. “No reason to stay.”

“But you…and Mairi…”

“What about us?” he said, steeling himself not to turn soft.

“But you seemed so—good for each other.”

She had to make this harder, didn’t she? “We spent one night together. That’s all. Do you know how many women I’ve spent the night with?” His excuse sounded hollow and false to his ears; an old, womanizing, superficial version of himself resurfacing.

“I don’t want to know.”

“I’m not going to commit to someone I barely know.” His voice sounded strained as he tried to justify his actions to both his mum and himself. “Besides, she’ll be better off here with a full clan. With gargoyles like you to take care of her.” If he trusted anyone to do so, it was his mum. “She needs to heal, Mum. Not just physically. What she’s gone through….”

“I know that. But you’re a stubborn fool for leaving.”

He swallowed a lump in his throat and stole one last glance at Mairi. That was a mistake, making leaving all the more difficult. “Maybe so.” Her auburn hair flowed, soft tendrils framing her peaceful face. He took one step closer to her and raised his hand but then dropped it. Why torment himself? “But it’s what’s best for both of us.”

He turned away before he changed his mind. “I’m going home.”

Mairi woke, not sure where she was. A quick scan of her surroundings revealed a familiar room. She focused on a glass of water on the wooden table near the bed. Her throat was parched, as if licked by flames from a torch. She lifted the glass and sipped the lukewarm liquid that was both painful and refreshing on her dry throat. When she assessed the rest of the room, the pattern of the gray stone walls rang with familiarity.

Aye, she’d been here before. With Bryce. Visuals of that magical night together before the battle returned. She closed her eyes, reliving some of the heated moments.

She snapped her eyes open. That meant she was back with the Calder clan. Where was he?

Stretching her body under the chestnut-colored, fur blanket was a mistake. Burns stung her flesh and her muscles ached. Memories of their origin rushed back, flashing before her.

She’d been burned fighting the demon. She’d fallen. Bryce had caught her and they were both falling. Burning…

Her wings had been so badly scorched, they’d been useless. He’d been the only one with a chance at saving them. She’d transferred her energy to him. But it had taken too much out of her.

That was it. All she remembered. How did she end up here when her last memory involved scalding flames while plunging to the earth with Bryce?

She stretched out her arms. Char marks over both, but far fewer than she’d expected after such searing pain. A quick scan of the rest of her flesh revealed similar, but fading marks. Which meant she must have been recovering. How long had she been here?

When she attempted to climb out of bed, she found she was naked under the blanket. More questions rose.

What could she cover herself with? Where was her dress? She closed her eyes and willed it to come. When the fabric reappeared, taking form over her body, she was a little surprised, not knowing what had happened the last time she’d shifted.

She had to find Bryce. Talk to him about what happened.